The United States says it is "gravely concerned" by the situation of members of religious minorities in Iraq who are trapped on a mountaintop after threats by Islamic militants.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said on August 7 that the U.S. government and military were "working intensively" with the Iraqi government in addressing the crisis.

However, Earnest declined to confirm an August 7 report in "The New York Times" that said that President Barack Obama was considering options ranging from dropping humanitarian supplies on Mount Sinjar to air strikes against fighters from the Islamic State who are at the base of the mountain.